There are many types of headaches that come and go. When the headache is recurrent and severe, we need to find out the trigger factors. Migraine headache needs to pay attention to, and the diagnosis of the root cause becomes very important.
Migraine, with severe symptoms, can be a debilitating condition. It can be cured by lifestyle modifications, diet changes, yoga, exercise, preventive measures, Ayurvedic medicines, and Panchakarma therapies.
Do’s for Migraine
1. Sound Sleep:
Sleep is a very delicate cause and trigger factor for Migraine. Too much sleep and too little sleep both can be the trigger factors for migraines. So, make disciplined sleep patterns and strictly follow them.
2. Weather condition:
Some weather conditions like Storms, heavy rains, and the winter season can be the triggers of Migraine for some people.
3. Plan your period:
It is common in females with a migraine that pain can aggravate during the menstruation period, ovulation time, and menopause.
4. Track your attacks:
Keep a triggers diary and write what you eat, your sleep patterns, medications that you eat, and other associated symptoms. This record-keeping will help to understand the disease behavior and will help in treatment.
5. Alcohol:
Alcohol, especially red wine, can be a significant trigger factor for migraine headaches. So, observe the reaction and try to avoid the use of alcohol altogether.
6. Boost your health:
To prevent Migraine, take a nutritious diet, adequate sleep, drink plenty of water, regular exercise, doing yoga and Pranayam, and being cheerful is an excellent idea. All these factors can avoid the recurrence of headache.
7. Eat fresh fruits:
Eating processed foods, fast food, non-vegetarian items, cheese, and other market foodstuffs can be significant triggers for Migraine. Hence, try to avoid all these foodstuffs and include fresh fruits rich diet in your daily routine. Fruits not only help to avoid the triggers of Migraine; instead, they help in healing.
8. Cooling therapy:
A coconut oil massage over the head and scalp may relieve or prevent an episode of headache. Many people believe that gentle pressure on the temporal region relieves pain.
9. Rest:
Headache is a sign that the body requires rest now. Many people are very busy with a tight daily schedule and are unwilling to take the rest.
So, lying down in a well-ventilated dark room and taking a power nap for half an hour is an excellent idea to avoid migraine pain.
10. Hot water bath:
People with a sinus headache can start their day with a hot water bath, a cup of ginger tea, light breakfast. These steps will help to clear the breathing passages.
11. Making a personal food diary:
Certain food items can act as trigger factors for migraines. Sometimes, it is challenging to identify them. The best way to find out the cause is to make a food diary. You can note down what you eat the whole day and whether you experience a headache after consuming any specific food item or not. If you find something is a cause of Migraine, you eliminate it from the diet.
12. Maintain healthy body weight:
A balanced or healthy weight is essential for everyone to reduce migraine symptoms. While obesity does not cause migraines, it can create many other health conditions that can cause migraines like sleep disorders and increased spinal fluid pressure. So, it is crucial to balance the bodyweight with the diet plan and regular exercise. Do deep breathing exercises and yoga to keep the mind and body stress-free.
Don’ts
1. Don’t skip meals:
Avoiding meals can be the leading cause of Migraine because we need fuel to work the whole day. Hence, start your day with a heavy breakfast.
2. Don’t over-exercise:
Sometimes, too much exercise can induce migraine pain. A regular and light exercise will give a patient overall health and reduce migraine symptoms. But it should start slowly and increase gradually.
3. Don’t use alcohol:
Alcohol can be an influential trigger factor for Migraine. So, patients with migraine headaches who consume alcohol should avoid it altogether.
4. Avoid Sun exposure:
Bright sunlight, heat, and dehydration play a vital role in initiating headaches. If you are prone to migraines, take plenty of water and cover your head and wear sunglasses. These methods will help protect you from overheating, and you can avoid an episode of migraine headache.
5. Avoid dehydration:
Even a mild episode of dehydration can aggravate a migraine headache. So, a migraine patient should consume 6 to 8 glasses of water a day to keep the pain away.
6. Avoid continuous use of electronic screens:
Continuously watching tv, computer, and mobile phone can cause strain in the eyes. In a migraine patient, eyestrain can also act as a trigger factor for pain.
7. Don’t stress:
Tension and overthinking can distress your body. Stress can be an essential factor to initiate a migraine. Regular exercise, good eating habits, yoga practice, and sound sleep can reduce stress levels.
8. Don’t ignore the environmental factors:
A loud noise, certain pungent, pleasurable smells, and flashing lights can also act as the trigger factors for inducing migraine pain. Try to avoid them.
9. Don’t smoke:
Everybody knows that smoking is dangerous for health. A patient with Migraine must avoid the use of tobacco in any form.
Avoid using healthy food triggers: In patients with Migraine, healthy and nutritious food is very important to balance the health. But, in a few cases, some healthy food items can even act as trigger factors. Some of them can be citrus fruits, peanuts, beans, stored dairy products, and many others. Have a research on your body and eliminate those entire foodstuffs.
Hope you have got much knowledge about the necessary changes you need to do to manage Migraine. For more information about Migraine Treatment in Ayurveda, stay tuned with Prakash Nethralaya and Panchakarma Kendra.
